A QUADRUPLE heart bypass survivor is dedicating herself to raising awareness about her condition and collecting money for the hospital that saved her life.

Victoria Bagnall, 36, of Third Avenue, Llay?, is collecting funds for Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital at Broadgreen after surviving multiple heart attacks from a young age.

She spoke out this week as perhaps one of the youngest people in the country to have received a quadruple heart bypass.

The operation took place in 2014.

She said: “Since the age of 30 I had been taken to Wrexham casualty on numerous occasions.

“On April 26, 2014 I became very ill, suffering agonising back pain. I had a crushing sensation in my chest, I could hardly breathe and I had pain in my jaw and both arms.

“I was grey and sweating and violently sick, so my partner rang an ambulance.

“An ECG showed I was indeed having a heart attack.

“I could not be stabilised so was rushed to Liverpool Heart and Chest hospital for emergency rescue where an angiogram was done and revealed that the heart attack I was having was my sixth, possibly seventh, and I needed a quadruple heart bypass.

“I was just 33 years old.”

Mrs Bagnall said she was put in a coma and her family were told she was not expected to live, but after two-and-a-half months in the Liverpool hospital she was discharged.

She said: “I am now a fundraiser for the hospital to help raise funds to help fight the battle from premature death from heart and lung disease.

”It’s shocking the amount of younger people where health issues are misdiagnosed or missed purely because of the fact that they are young.

“I’m hoping to do something to raise awareness of this. I don’t wish to slate the NHS as they did save my life but there certainly needs to be more awareness, especially with heart problems, as so many die.”

Mrs Bagnall previously raised hundreds of pounds by organising an 80s disco night with friends and family.

The disco event was held at a community centre shortly before Mrs Bagnall was married in December last year and raised more than £400 for the hospital which specialises in treating lung and heart diseases.

The Justgiving page, set up under Mrs Bagnall’s maiden name, is still open to donations.

Mrs Bagnall said: “It was really fun. I did more fundraising at my wedding. I wanted to raise awareness for other young people as what I have is very rare for someone my age.

“I offered wrist bands for £1 as my wedding favours and asked for a £1.50 donation to use the photo booth with all the money going to the charity.

Her husband Kevin, who has his own health issues, has been a support throughout.

Mary Liley, head of fundraising for Liverpool Heart and Chest Charity, said: “As well as being a fundraiser, we try to raise awareness. People like Vicky getting involved is helpful to show that it can happen to anyone.

“We have around 90,000 outpatients coming in and out and people come from great distances so the charity provides accommodation for the families while they are going through these stressful times.

“We also provided funds for the Critical Care Garden which is a quiet place where families can go but also, a place for patients to be when they are getting better.

“Their beds are taken outside for an hour or so, so they can get some sun and this is the impact the charity has so it is very important to us to raise awareness to help save lives.”

To donate, visit www.justgiving. com/fundraising/VICTORIA-DOREEN-CUPIT?